Inverting and reversing conveyor

ABSTRACT

In a production line where strips of material are traveling in the same direction at two different levels, a packaging station is provided which has a common packing area for the strips of material on both levels. The strips of material on the lower level are conveyed directly into the packing station. The strips of material on the upper level are conveyed past the packing station. Once past the packing station, the strips of material on the upper level are guided through an arcuate or semi-circular path which both reverses the direction of travel of the strips and inverts the strips. After their reversal and inversion the strips are introduced into the packing station at a common level with the strips introduced into the packing station from the lower level.

United States Patent 91 Wahlers et al.

[ May 7,1974

[ INVERTING AND REVERSING CONVEYOR [75] Inventors: James Ludwig Wahlers, Littleton,

Colo; Rupert Douglas Terry, Toledo, Ohio; William Scott, Jr., Littleton, Colo.; Charles Donald Simmers, Bowling Green, Ohio [73] Assignee: Johns-Manville Corporation,

Greenwood Village, C010.

[22] Filed: Feb. 27, '1973 [21] Appl. No.: 336,281

[52] US. Cl 53/21 FW, 53/23, 53/118, 53/123, 226/109, 242/55.l, 242/80 [51] Int. Cl B65b 63/04 [58] Field of Search 53/21 FW, 23, 116, 117, 53/118, 119, 123; 83/4, 107; 226/109;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,681,702 6/1954 Kuenn et a1. 53/118 X 3,206,131 9/1965 Anderberg et al 242/55.l

Primary ExaminerTravis S. McGehee Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert M. Krone; John D.

Lister [5 7] ABSTRACT In a production line where strips of material are traveling in the same direction at two different levels, a packaging station is provided which has a common packing area for the strips of material on both levels. The strips of material on the lower level are conveyed directly into the packing station. The strips of material on the upper level are conveyed past the packing station. Once past the packing station, the strips of material on the upper level are guided through an arcuate or semi-circular path which both reverses the direction of travel of the strips and inverts the strips. After their reversal and inversion the strips are introduced into the packing station at a common level with the strips introduced into the packing station from the lower level.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 INVERTING AND REVERSING CONVEYOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for inverting and reversing the direction of travel of a product on an upper level of a two level production line to enable a common packing area to serve both levels.

In some glass fiber operations the thicknesses of the blankets of insulating material produced are such that each of the blankets can be divided into two blankets of lesser thickness, As a result, the production line is split and the blankets of insulating material are conveyed toward a packing station on an upper and a lower level. Since the division of the blankets produces major surfaces which are better in appearance than the upper and lower major surfaces of the original blankets vapor barrier sheets for the insulating material are adhered to the major surfaces of the newly formed blankets that correspond to the upper and lower major surface of the original blankets.

In order to provide the maximum utilization of space and operating personnel for such an operation, it is an object of the present invention to both invert and reverse the direction of travel of the insulating blankets on the upper level so that a common packing area can be used for both the lower and upper levels. In addition, the reversal of the direction of travel of the blankets on the upper leveltogether with the inversion of the blankets exposes the surface of each blanket having the vapor barrier applied thereto when the blanket is rolled up for packaging. This is desirable in that the vapor barrier with its advertising material and installation instructions is exposed to the customer.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly the present invention comprises a packing station having a common packing area for a production line in which strips of material are being conveyed at two different levels. The strips of the lower level are conveyed directly into the packing station. However, the strips of the upper level are conveyed past the packing station after which they are reversed and inverted by directing them throughan arcuate path. With the direction of travel of the strips reversed and with the strips inverted, the strips of the upper level are introduced into the packing station on a common level with the strips being introduced from the lower level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 is a side view schematically illustrating a production line 20 utilizing the method and apparatus of the present invention. The method and apparatus of the present invention are primarily intended for use in a fiber glass manufacturing operation wherein mats, batts or blankets of insulating material are produced. However, the method and apparatus of the present invention can be used in any manufacturing operation wherein flexible products in strip, ribbon, mat or blanket form are being conveyed on more than one level and where it is desirable to have a common packing area for the two levels.

FIG. 1 illustrates a blanket 22 of insulating material coming from a conventional felting operation or other source (not shown) wherein glass fibers or other filaments are felted into a blanket. The blanket 22 is carried by a conveyor 24 to a conventional cutter 26 (e.g., a band saw) which slices the blanket 22 across its entire width into blankets 28 and 30 of lesser thickness than the blanket 22. While the blankets 28 and 30 can be the same thickness, where required or desired the blankets 28 and 30 can be sliced from blanket 22 so that the blankets 28 and 30 differ in thickness.

From the cutter 26 the blanket 28 is carried by a conveyor 32 to a lower level 34 of the production line. There the blanket 28 is sliced longitudinally into a plurality of strips by a plurality of cutters 36 (e.g., rotary saws) which are spaced apart across the width of the blanket. Typically, a 7% foot wide blanket is cutinto six 15 inch wide strips.

In the lower level 34 a plurality of facing sheets 38 from a roll 40 are applied to the lower major surfaces of the strips formed from the blanket 28. The facing sheets 38 correspond in width to the strips and can be made of paper, foil or other suitable material. The facing sheets 38 forms vapor barriers for the insulating products produced in this operation. During their application to the strips, the sheets 38 pass from the roll 40 over an adhesive applicator roll 42 where a suitable adhesive such as an asphalt adhesive is applied to major faces of the sheets 38. After the adhesive is applied to the sheets, the sheets are trained about an idler roll 44 which brings the adhesively coated surfaces of the sheets 38 into contact with the lower surfaces of the strips formed from blanket 28. The strips with the sheets contacting their lower faces are then drawn between conveyor belts 44 and 46. The strips of insulating blanket and the sheets are sandwiched between the conveyors 44 and 46 which draw the sheets 38 off of the roll 40 and apply pressure to the strips and sheets to insure a good adhesive bond.

After the facing sheets have been applied to the strips of blanket, the composites formed are passed through a cutting station 50. The cutting station 50 employs a conventional chopper 52 which is programmed to periodically cut the strips of blanket and facing sheets into strips of a desired length.

After passing through the chopper station 50, the

strips of blanket are then conveyed by a conveyor 54 to a conventional roll-up apparatus 56 e.g., a Bemis roll-up machine. There the blanket is rolled up into a roll for packaging purposes. The conveyor 54 conveys the strips at a faster rate than conveyors 44 and 46 to separate the strips coming into the roll-up apparatus from succeeding strips.

The blanket material 30 is subjected to substantially the same process as blanket 28. The blanket 30 is carried by a conveyor 58 to an upper level 60. There the blanket is slit at a cutting station 62 wherein a plurality of conventional cutters 64 slit the blanket of insulating material longitudinally into a plurality of strips. After the blanket is slit into the longitudinal strips, facing sheets 66 are applied to the upper faces of the strips from a roll 68. As with the lower level 34 the facing sheets 66 have an adhesive applied thereto by an applicator roll 70. The sheets then pass about an idler roll.

72 and into contact with the upper faces of the strips. The strips and sheets are then drawn between conveyors 74 and 76 where they are pressed together and firmly united. Once through the conveyors 74 and 76 the strips of insulatingmaterial, with the facing sheets adhered thereto, pass through a chopper station 78 where a conventional chopper 80 is programmed tochop the strips of insulation and the facing sheets into strips of material having a desired length. From the chopping station 78 the strips of material are carried by conveyors 82 and 84 to the inverting and reversing station 86. At the inverting and reversing station 86, the direction of travel of the strips is reversed and the strips are inverted so that the facing sheets 66 will be on the outside during the roll-up operation. From the inverting and reversing station 86, the strips are carried by a conveyor 88 to the packing station where another conventional roll-up device 90 is utilized to roll the strips of material up into a form suitable for packaging.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of one form of the inverting and reversing station 86 of the present invention. The station includes a drum 92, shown in section, which has a perforated cylindrical wall 94 with apertures 96 therein. The drum is at least as wide as the blanket and is supported by a plurality of spokes 98 which are welded or otherwise secured to the interior surface of the cylindrical wall 94 adjacent the ends of the drum. The spokes 98 extend radially outward from collars 100 which are rotatably mounted on a fixed hollow axle 102. The drum is rotated by a motor 104 through a conventional drive assembly 106.

A vacuum or suction chamber 108 is located within the drum. The suction chamber includes a pair of metal plates 110 and 112 which are welded or otherwise affixed to the axle 102. The plate 110 extends radially outward and upward from the axle 102at an angle of 45 or less relative to the vertical. The plate 112 extends radially outward and downward from the axle 102 at an angle to the vertical such that once the suction holding the strips to the drum is broken the strips will be transferred to the conveyor 88. The plates 110 and 112 extend for substantially the entire length of the drum and are welded or otherwise secured to edges of end plates 114 of the chamber. In addition to the edges which are welded-to walls 110 and 112, the end plates 114 each have an arcuate edge 116 conforming to the general contour of the interior surface of the drum 92 extending between these edges. As shown, the perforated cylindrical wall of the drum forms a moving wall of the suction chamber opposing plates 110 and 112 to thereby enclose the suction chamber. As shown, the outer edges of plates 110 and 112 which contact the inner surface of the drum can be provided with suitable conventional sealing means 118. The peripheral edges of end plates 114 can also be provided with a suitable sealing means not shown to effect a seal between the end plates 114 and the interior of the drum. The stationary hollow axle 102 is provided with vacuum ports 119 extending between the interior of the axle and the suction chamber. These vacuum ports connect the suction chamber with a conventional vacuum pump or suction fan (not shown).

The reversing and inverting station isalso provided with a very finely woven synthetic fabric cloth (e.g., polypropylene cloth) or a fine mesh metallic cloth conveyor belt 120. The conveyor belt 120 is trained about the drum 92 and a pair of idler rolls 122 and 124. The conveyor belt 120 helps to conveythe blanket from the conveyor 84 to the drum and from the drum to the conveyor 88. In addition, with its fine mesh or weave, the conveyor belt prevents fibers of the insulating blanket from being drawn into the suction chamber. Thus, the appearance of the blankets surface which will be exposed upon unpackaging is maintained and fibers are prevented from entering into the vacuum system where they might damage or clog the system. While as shown, the conveyor belt 120 is driven by the drum 92. It is contemplated that an auxiliary drive such as a drive roll could be substituted for one of the idler rolls 122 and 124.

With the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 the strips of insulating with the facing sheets on their upper surfaces are conveyed to the inverting and reversing station by the conveyor 84. The conveyor 84 transfers the strips of material to conveyor belt 120 which carries the strips of insulating material around to the upper quadrant of the drum where the wall 110 defines the beginning of the suction chamber. At this point the suction chamber draws air in through the apertures 96 of the drum to hold the strips against the drum by the forces created. The strips continue on about the drum until passing the wall 112 of the vacuum chamber where the vacuum is cut off and the strips are transferred to conveyor 88 which conveys the strips to the wrapping station with the facing sheets on the lower surfaces so that when the strips are rolled up the facing sheets will be exposed.

FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention wherein the inverting and reversing station includes an inner hugger belt 126 and an outer hugger belt 120. The inner and outer hugger belts generally travel at substantially the same linear speed. However, if desired, the outer hugger belt which travels through a slighly greater distance can travel at a slightly greater speed to prevent the strips from being subjected to any shearing action by the hugger belts. The belts 126 and 128 each have a width somewhat greater than the width of the blanket 30. While the belts 126 and 128 can be formed from other materials such as cable reinforced rubber belting, inthe preferred form the belts 126 and 128 comprise conventional woven wire belts 130 and 132 which are carried between side chains 134 and 136. The belts 130 and 132 are supported on a plurality of idler rolls 138 and 140 respectively which are provided with sprockets 142 and 144 on each end. The sprockets 142 and 144 mesh with the side chains 134 'and 136 to keep the belts properly aligned. In addition,

the hugger belts 130 and 132'are driven through the sprockets of drive rolls 146 and 148 of the hugger belts.

that a plane passing through the axes of rotation of these rolls defines a cord through the semi-circular or arcuate arrangement of the idler rolls 138 of the inner hugger belt. The outer hugger belt is also provided with a spring loaded take-up roll and sprocket 154 which maintains the outer hugger belt under a light tension so as to urge the run of the outer hugger belt 128 intermediate the drive roll 148 and the idler roll 152 toward the inner hugger belt 126. In this way, strips of insulating material introduced between the inner and outer hugger belts from conveyor 84 are gripped between the hugger belts and carried through the arcuate path defined by the hugger belts so as to reverse the direction of travel of the strips and invert the strips so that the facing sheets of the strips are on the lower surface of the strips to facilitate packaging. From the hugger belts the strips are discharged onto conveyor 88 which carries the strips to the roll-up device.

What is claimed is:

1. In a production line where strips of material are traveling in the same direction at a lower level and an upper level, the improvement comprising:

a. a packing station having a common packing area for both levels,

b. means for conveying a first series of strips on the lower level to the packing station,

c. means for conveying a second series of strips on the upper level past the packing station,

(1. means for reversing the direction of travel of the second series of strips on the upper level once the second series of strips are past the packing station and for conveying the second series of strips down to the packing station at a common level with the first series of strips introduced to the packing station from the lower level.

2. ln a production line as defined in claim 1, the improvement further comprising:

a. means for inverting the second series of strips.

3. In a production line as defined in claim 2, the improvement further comprising:

a. said means for reversing the direction of travel of the second series of strips and for inverting the second series of strips being an inner and an outer hugger belt means, said inner and outer-hugger belt means each being trained about a series of idler rolls to define inner and outer arcuate paths of travel for the hugger belt means which grip and convey the second series of strips through the defined arcuate path to reverse the direction of travel of the second series of strips and to invert the second series of strips, and

b. drive means for driving said hugger belt means.

4. In a production line as defined in claim 2, the improvement further comprising:

a. said means for reversing the direction of travel of the second series of strips and for inverting the second series of strips being a drum having a perforated cylindrical wall, a suction chamber within the drum with the cylindrical wall defining an arcuate wall of the suction chamber, means for creating a negative pressure within the suction chamber, and means for rotating the drum.

5. In a production line as defined in claim 4, the improvement further comprising:

a. a fine mesh cloth conveyor belt to prevent material from being drawn into the perforations, and the belt being trained about the drum and moving at the same linear speed as the surface of the drum.

6. A method of directing strips to a packing station in a production line where strips of material are traveling in the same direction on a lower level and an upper level, comprising:

a. providing a packing station having a common packing area for both levels,

b. conveying a first series of strips on the lower level to the packing station,

c. conveying a second series of strips on the upper level past the packing station,

d. reversing the direction of travel of the second series of strips on the upper level once the second se ries of strips are past the packing station and conveying the second series of strips down to the packing station at a common level with the first series of strips introduced to the packing station from the lower level.

7. A method as defined in claim 6 further comprising:

tion of travel is being reversed.

Disclaimer 3,808,765.James Ludwig Walzlers, Littleton, (1010., Rape/1t Douglas Terry, Toledo, Ohio, W illiam Scott, J11, Little/con, (3010., and Charles Donald Simmews, Bowling Green, Ohio. lNVER-TING AND REVERSING CONVEYOR. Patent dated May 7, 1974. Disclaimer filed May 30, 1978, by the assignee, Johm-Mavwille Cowpomtz'on. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1, 2, 6 and 7 of said patent.

[OfiZcial Gazette July 11, 1978.] 

1. In a production line where strips of material are traveling in the same direction at a lower level and an upper level, the improvement comprising: a. a packing station having a common packing area for both levels, b. means for conveying a first series of strips on the lower level to the packing station, c. means for conveying a second series of strips on the upper level past the packing station, d. means for reversing the direction of travel of the second series of strips on the upper level once the second series of strips are past the packing station and for conveying the second series of strips down to the packing station at a common level with the first series of strips introduced to the packing station from the lower level.
 2. In a production line as defined in claim 1, the improvement further comprising: a. means for inverting the second series of strips.
 3. In a production line as defined in claim 2, the improvement further comprising: a. said means for reversing the direction of travel of the second series of strips and for inverting the second series of strips being an inner and an outer hugger belt means, said inner and outer hugger belt means each being trained about a series of idler rolls to define inner and outer arcuate paths of travel for the hugger belt means which grip and convey the second series of strips through the defined arcuate path to reverse the direction of travel of the second series of strips and to invert the second series of strips, and b. drive means for driving said hugger belt means.
 4. In a production line as defined in claim 2, the improvement further comprising: a. said means for reversing the direction of travel of the second series of strips and for inverting the second series of strips being a drum having a perforated cylindrical wall, a suction chamber within the drum with the cylindrical wall defining an arcuate wall of the suction chamber, means for creating a negative pressure within the suction chamber, and means for rotating the drum.
 5. In a production line as defined in claim 4, the improvement further comprising: a. a fine mesh cloth conveyor belt to prevent material from being drawn into the perforations, and the belt being trained about the drum and moving at the same linear speed as the surface of the drum.
 6. A method of directing strips to a packing station in a production line where strips of material are traveling in the same direction on a lower level and an upper level, comprising: a. providing a packing station having a common packing area for both levels, b. conveying a first series of strips on the lower level to the packing station, c. conveying a second series of strips on the upper level past the packing station, d. reversing the direction of travel of the second series of strips on the upper level once the second series of strips are past the packing station and conveying the second series of strips down to the packing station at a common level with the first series of strips introduced to the packing station from the lower level.
 7. A method as defined in claim 6 further comprising: a. inverting the second series of strips as their direction of travel is being reversed. 